Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Effects of resource manipulation on the correlation between total phenolics and astringency in Douglas-fir

  • Published:
Journal of Chemical Ecology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The correlation between total phenolics and tannin content within a species is often considered to be suitably strong to allow researchers to assume, with some degree of confidence, that levels of one will approximately parallel the other. However, the manipulation of resource availability could lead to disproportionate changes in total phenolics and tannins and/or in the specific monomers of which these fractions are composed, thus altering the correlation between these components. In order to test this hypothesis, we examined the correlation between foliar levels of total phenolics (as measured by the ferric chloride assay) and tannins (as measured by an astringency assay) in Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii Mirb. Franco) before and after the manipulation of nitrogen and water availability. Prior to manipulation of resources, the correlation between total phenolics and tannins was strong and highly significant (r2=0.869;P < 0.001). This correlation was considerably weaker and not statistically significant following resource manipulation (r2 = 0.392; 0.20 <P < 0.50). These results demonstrate that manipulation of resource availability can alter the correlation between total phenolics and tannins in intraspecific comparisons. The causes underlying the observed degradation in the correlation between these measures (whether qualitative, quantitative, or both) are unknown and require further investigation.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Beart, J.E., Lilley, T.H., andHaslam, E. 1985. Plant polyphenols-secondary metabolism and chemical defence: Some observations.Phytochemistry 24:33–38.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bernays, E.A., Cooper-Driver, G., andBilgener, M. 1990. Herbivores and plant tannins.Adv. Ecol. Res. 19:263–302.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bryant, J.P. 1987. Feltleaf willow-snowshoe hare interactions: Plant carbon/nutrient balance and floodplain succession.Ecology 68:1319–1327.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bryant, J.P., Chapin, F.S., III, andKlein, D.R. 1983. Carbon/nutrient balance of boreal plants in relation to vertebrate herbivory.Oikos 40:357–368.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bryant, J.P., Chapin, F.S., III, Reichardt, P.B., andClausen, T.P. 1987. Response of winter chemical defense in Alaska paper birch and green alder to manipulation of plant carbon/nutrient balance.Oecologia 72:510–514.

    Google Scholar 

  • Coley, P.D., Bryant, J.P., andChapin, F.S., III. 1985. Resource availability and plant antiherbivore defense.Science 230:895–899.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dement, W.A., andMooney, H.A. 1974. Seasonal variation in the production of tannins and cyanogenic glucosides in the chaparral shrub,Heteromeles arbutifolia.Oecologia 15:65–76.

    Google Scholar 

  • Feeny, P. 1976. Plant apparency and chemical defense.Recent Adv. Phytochem. 10:1–40.

    Google Scholar 

  • Goldstein, J.L., andSwain, T. 1963. Changes in tannins in ripening fruits.Phytochemistry 2:371–383.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gosz, J.R. 1981. Nitrogen cycling in coniferous ecosystems.Ecol. Bull. (Stockholm) 33:405–426.

    Google Scholar 

  • Grove, J.F., andPople, M. 1979. The identification and characterization of orthodihydric phenols.Phytochemistry 18:1071–1072.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hagerman, A.E., andButler, L.G. 1978. Protein precipitation method for the quantitative determination of tannins.J. Agric. Food Chem. 26:809–812.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hagerman, A.E., andButler, L.G. 1989. Choosing appropriate methods and standards for assaying tannin.J. Chem. Ecol. 15:1795–1810.

    Google Scholar 

  • Haslam, E. 1981. Vegetable tannins, pp. 527–566,in E.E. Conn and P.K. Stumpf (eds.). The Biochemistry of Plants: A Comprehensive Treatise, Vol. 7. Secondary Plant Products. Academic Press, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Horner, J.D. 1988a. Astringency of Douglas-fir foliage in relation to phenology and xylem pressure potential.J. Chem. Ecol. 14:1227–1237.

    Google Scholar 

  • Horner, J.D. 1988b. Erratum: Astringency of Douglas-fir foliage in relation to phenology and xylem pressure potential.J. Chem. Ecol. 14:1977–1978.

    Google Scholar 

  • Horner, J.D. 1990. Nonlinear effects of water deficits on foliar tannin concentration.Biochem. Syst. Ecol. 18:211–213.

    Google Scholar 

  • Horner, J.D., Gates, R.G., andGosz, J.R. 1987. Tannin, nitrogen, and cell wall composition of green vs. senescent Douglas-fir foliage: Within- and between-stand differences in stands of unequal density.Oecologia 72:515–519.

    Google Scholar 

  • Horner, J.D., Gosz, J.R., andGates, R.G. 1988. The role of carbon-based plant secondary metabolites in decomposition in terrestrial ecosystems.Am. Nat. 132:869–883.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kuiters, A.T. 1990. Role of phenolic substances from decomposing forest litter in plant-soil interactions.Acta Bot. Neerl. 39:329–348.

    Google Scholar 

  • Larsson, S., Wiren, A., Lundgren, L., andEricsson, T. 1986. Effects of light and nutrient stress on leaf phenolic chemistry inSalix dasyclados and susceptibility toGalerucella lineola (Coleoptera).Oikos 47:205–210.

    Google Scholar 

  • Martin, J.S., andMartin, M.M. 1982. Tannin assays in ecological studies: Lack of correlation between phenolics, proanthocyanidins and protein-precipitating constituents in mature foliage of six oak species.Oecologia 54:205–211.

    Google Scholar 

  • Martin, J.S., andMartin, M.M. 1983. Tannin assays in ecological studies: Precipitation of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase by tannic acid, quebracho, and oak foliage extracts.J. Chem. Ecol. 9:285–294.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mole, S., andWaterman, P.G. 1987a. A critical analysis of techniques for measuring tannins in ecological studies. I. Techniques for chemically defining tannins.Oecologia 72:137–147.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mole, S., andWaterman, P.G. 1987b. A critical analysis of techniques for measuring tannins in ecological studies. II. Techniques for biochemically defining tannins.Oecologia 72:148–156.

    Google Scholar 

  • Oh, H., andHoff, J.E. 1979. Fractionation of grape tannins by affinity chromatography and partial characterisation of the fractions.J. Food Sci. 44:87–89.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rhoades, D.F., andCates, R.G. 1976. Toward a general theory of plant antiherbivore chemistry.Recent Adv. Phytochem. 10:168–213.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rice, E.L. 1984. Allelopathy, 2nd ed. Academic Press, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rice, E.L., andPancholy, S.K. 1972. Inhibition of nitrification by climax ecosystems.Am. J. Bot. 59:1033–1040.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rice, E.L., andPancholy, S.K. 1973. Inhibition of nitrification by climax ecosystems. II. Additional evidence and possible role of tannins.Am. J. Bot. 60:691–702.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rice, E.L., andPancholy, S.K. 1974. Inhibition of nitrification by climax ecosystems. III. Inhibitors other than tannins.Am. J. Bot. 61:1095–1103.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rosenthal, G.A., andJanzen, D.H. (eds.) 1979. Herbivores: Their Interactions with Secondary Plant Metabolites. Academic Press, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sokal, R.R., andRohlf, F.J. 1981. Biometry, 2nd Ed. W.H. Freeman and Co., New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tempel, A.S. 1982. Tannin-measuring techniques: A review.J. Chem. Ecol. 8:1289–1298.

    Google Scholar 

  • Turner, J. 1977. Effect of nitrogen availability on nitrogen cycling in a Douglas-fir stand.For. Sci. 23:307–316.

    Google Scholar 

  • Turner, J., andOlson, P.R. 1976. Nitrogen relations in a Douglas-fir plantation.Ann. Bot. 40:1185–1193.

    Google Scholar 

  • Waring, R.H., McDonald, A.J.S., Larsson, S., Ericsson, T., Wiren, A., Arwidsson, E., Ericsson, A., andLohammar, T. 1985. Differences in chemical composition of plants grown at constant relative growth rates with stable mineral nutrition.Oecologia 66:157–160.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wender, S.H. 1970. Effects of some environmental stress factors on certain phenolic compounds in tobacco.Recent Adv. Phytochem. 3:1–29.

    Google Scholar 

  • White, C.S., Gosz, J.R., Horner, J.D., andMoore, D.I. 1988. Seasonal, annual, and treatmentinduced variation in available nitrogen pools and nitrogen-cycling processes in soils of two Douglas-fir stands.Biol. Fertil. Soils 6:93–99.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zangerl, A.R., andBerenbaum, M.R. 1987. Furanocoumarins in wild parsnip: Effects of photosynthetically active radiation, ultraviolet light, and nutrients.Ecology 68:516–520.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zar, J.H. 1974. Biostatistical Analysis. Prentice-Hall, Inc., Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zornoza, P., andEsteban, R.M. 1984. Flavonoids content of tomato plants for the study of the nutritional status.Plant Soil 82:269–271.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zucker, W.V. 1983. Tannins: Does structure determine function? An ecological perspective.Am. Nat. 121:335–365.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Author notes

  1. John D. Horner

    Present address: Department of Biology, Texas Christian University, P.O. Box 32916, 76129, Fort Worth, Texas

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, University of New Mexico, 87131, Albuquerque, New Mexico

    John D. Horner & James R. Gosz

  2. Ckemical Ecology Laboratory Department of Botany and Range Science, Brigham Young University, 84602, Provo, Utah

    Rex G. Cates

Authors
  1. John D. Horner
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Rex G. Cates
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. James R. Gosz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Horner, J.D., Cates, R.G. & Gosz, J.R. Effects of resource manipulation on the correlation between total phenolics and astringency in Douglas-fir. J Chem Ecol 19, 1429–1437 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00984887

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00984887

Key Words

Search

Navigation